Unitary structural system



June 2, 1 942.

WITNESS R. L. SPEED 2,284,927

UN ITARY S TRI'JC TURAL SYS TEM Filed Nov. 4, 1940 I I Q} f w fio A. 8 66d ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 UNI TARY S TRUC TURA L S YS TEM Filed Nov. 4, 1940 5 'sheets shet 2 wrruiss ATTORNEYS June 2, 1942. R. 1.. SPEED 2,284,927 UNITARY STRUCTURAL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 4, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet iioy 4.6}06662" ATTOR N EYS June 2, 1942. R. -1... SPEED 2,284,927 I ,UNITARY STRUCTURAL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 4, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 15 /2 as; 1 [a I 15/7 l5 Way A. (5)0 eed INVENTOR l2 WITNESS" ATTO R NEYS June 2, 1942. R. L. SPEED UNITARY STRUCTURAL SYSTEM.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 Filed Nov. 4, 1940 F0 45" eed .-vmR

ATTOR N EYS Patented June 2, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNITARY STRUCTURAL SYSTEM Roy L. Speed, ,San Francisco, Calif.v

Application November 4, 1940, Serial No. 364,310

' 4 Claims.

This invention relates to unitary, metal panel, building structure systems and has for its prime object to improve generally upon such structural systems and more particularly in the simpliflca tion of the several units in'the respective structural fabrications thereof whereby to minimize weight without detracting from the rigidity, strength and durability of the several units.

A particular object is to produce a system of interfitting and interchangeable panel units and cooperative supporting frame and connector. elements for ready assemblage in side wall, fioor, ceiling and roof construction, not only in buildings in general to be used as dwellings, or for public use, commercial or other purposes, but also for the construction of many other utilities of various constructions and arrangements too numerous to here describe in detail.

Other objects and advantages to be attained will hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention consists in the general structure and in the particular parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter described and finally defined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical adaptation of the invention, in which,

Figure 1 is a view, partly in front elevation partly in transverse vertical section, illustrating a two story building erected in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, of the same building shown in Figure 1;-

Figure 3 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged 1 larged scale, taken on or about the lines 55 of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that in Figure 5, but the section being taken at right angles thereto, on or about the lines 66 of Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, detailed view, partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section, illustrating a tubular corner post element of square cross section and illustrating the manner of attaching side wall panel units thereto;

of Figure '7, but showing a channeled intermediate side wall post or studding element and the manner of attaching the meeting rightangular end portions of two adjoining side wall panels thereto;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a side wall panel frame structure;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the structural details of a floor or ceiling panel frame;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a double spar or joist or girder element;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, but

showing a single spar, joist or girder element;

Figure 13 is a foreshortened perspective view of a square corner post element;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13, but showing a channeled intermediate side wall post, or studding element, the form of which is the same as that of the intermediate horizontal elements of the respective panel frames;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one method of attaching the side wall, floor and ceiling plates orl sheets to the channeled intermediate panel frame elements or the similarly formed side wall uprights, as the case may be;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15, but showing a different method of attaching the plates or sheets to the channeled element;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken on or about the line i'l-l'l of Figure 9; and

I Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a seam formation where two downwardly sloping roofing plates or sheets meet at the bottom of the valley between two adjoining hipped roof sections in a multiple hip roof structure.

includes an outer covering of plates or sheets 5 of any suitable material, either metallic, wooden, compressed fibre or other conventional, approved and well known composition, said covering being applied over and suitably fastened to special uni- Figure 8 is a view similar in character to that tary, metal, open frame, panel units to be later more fully described in detail. The front and side wall panels, as shown more clearly in Figures 3 to 6, inclusive, are also covered with interior lining, or facing plates or sheets 6, and the roofing panels and upper floor panels of the structure are covered on their under sides with ceiling plates or sheets I. So, too, in this connection, it is herealso noted that both the bottom and the upper floor panel units are covered on their top sides with any suitable flooring material 8. The manner of fastening the wall, ceiling and flooring plates or sheets to the several panel frames will be later more fully described.

The front and side wall panel unit frame structure will be now described. In this connection, it is first pointed out that the several panels are made in different standard unitary sizes and each being extended perpendicularly in the plane of the outer side of the panel frame, this for the attachment of the panel frame to either a corner post of the building frame or to an intermediate post or studding element in the front or side wall structure. So, too, in the same connection, the outer flanges or leg portions 9 of said vertical panel frame members 9 are preferably provided with integral, inwardly projecting, screwthreaded studs l5 which are respectively positioned so as toenter apertures provided therefor in the vertical corner or intermediate posts or studding elements which will be next described.

As shown more clearly in Figures '7 and 13, the corner posts or studding elements, designated by the numeral [6, are of square cross section,

' and the same are made in standard unitary unit separately fabricated at the factory in many different sizes to suit the requirements in the construction of buildings and other utilities of different characters, sizes and uses. It is here further pointed out thatthere are obviously plain panel units and certain other units which are provided with either door or window frames, and associated adjuncts, but as to marginal structure and general framing the several panels are identical, this for the interfitting changeability of the several panels the one with the other in whatever part of the building structure they are placed in the assembly.

As shown more clearly in Figure 9, each wall panel unit is of general rectangular form and comprises vertical longitudinal side margin frame members 9 which are of plain rightangular cross section, that is to say, said members 9 are of ordinary commercialized L-shape. The vertical frame members Q are rigidly connected by bottom cross members ill, also of L-shape, but the horizontal leg of the member It being at the top thereof and extended inwardly and having its inner margin refianged, as at til and the other leg W of said member It) being of greater width than the horizontal leg thereof and disposed at the outer side of the panel.

The upper end portions of the vertical frame members 9 are rigidly cross-connected by a channel member ii, the opening of which is at the inner side of the frame, the bottom flange of the channel member El being marginally refianged, as at i l and the upper flange of said member I i being. formed in inverted V-shape, as at l2, to provide a sharp ridge extending lengthwise at the top of the panel frame, and said ridge portion being marginall reflanged, as at E2, in the same vertical plane as the underlying refianged portion i i of said member l I.

At places intermediate the bottom and top cross members iii and l l, the vertical members 9 of the wall panel frame are rigidly cross-connected by plain rectangular channel members l3 \vhose openings are at the inner side of the panel like the member H, and it is here noted that the fastening together of the frame members 9, 10, l i and I3 may be, obviously effected by a welding process or any other known and approved means.

Preferably, as shown, the wall panel frame is 'trussed and stiffened by zigzag lattieework' l4,

the flattened portions M" thereof, between the inclined transverse portions, being welded or otherwise secured to the horizontal frame members [0, LI and [3. It is here further noted that the respective vertical frame members 9' have one of their flanged or leg portions 9 fastened to the 'ends of the horizontal frame members l0, H and i3, and the other flanged or leg portion 9* thereof angular wall of the post.

lengths, some of which are long enough to extend from the building foundation to the roof framing unit or units to be later more full described, or, in some structures of more than one story, other posts or studding elements will be of a length to extend only approximately the height of each story and being superimposed in vertical alinement one upon another.

As shown in Figure 7, but more clearly in Figure 17, the respective above described screwthreaded studs 15 are provided with heads l5 which are received and welded securely, as at I5", in apertures provided therefor in said frame member flanged portion 9*. Obviously, however, the studs 55 may be otherwise fixedly attached to the flange 9 in any approved conventional manner.

The apertures in the corner post 56 for the reception of the screw-threaded studs i5 are designated by the numeral H (see Figures 7 and 13) and, as shown in Figure '7, nuts l8 are tightened on the studs l5 against the adjacent inner face portions of the walls of the post l6, thereby clamping the flange portion 9 of the panel frame member 9 to the opposed wall of the post and also holding the other flange 9* of the frame member 9 against the adjacent right- For convenient access to the interior of the corner post l6, for the placing and tightening of the nuts 58 on the screwthreaded studs E5, the opposite wall portions of the post are provided with openings E9 of ample size for the placing of the nuts l8 and the application thereto of a wrench or manipulating In Figures 8 and 14, intermediate vertical wall posts or studding elements 20 are illustrated, said elements being of plain, rectangular, channeled cross section, and the opening of the channel being inwardly as with the channeled panel frame members H and i3, these intermediate channeled posts or studding elements 20 being apertured, as at H, for the reception of the screw-threaded studs l5 of the meeting flange portions 9 of the vertical panel frame members 9 which are joined to the posts or studding elements 20 as shown in Figure 8 and in substantially the same manner as in the corner post attachment of the panels I l in Figure '7. In this connection, it is here noted that the longitudinal opening of the channeled post or studding element 20 affords ready access to the studs l5 for the placing and tightening of the nuts [8 thereon.

The frame structure of the floor and ceiling panels will now be described.- As shown, and more clearly in Figure 10, these frames are of general rectangular form and of substantially the same body structure 'as'the hereinbefore described wall panel frames, except as to the marginal portions of the structure. That is to say, the several floor and ceiling panel frames each includes a plurality of intermediate transverse channel members ,20" which are identical in cross-sectional form as the -hercinbefore described intermediate wall posts or studding elements 20, said transverse elements 20 being rigidly attached at their ends to longitudinal side members 22 having flat strip portions 23 and integral, inverted V-grooved, laterally projecting, flange portions 24 extending along the lower margins thereof.

The channeled transverse members 20 of the floor and ceiling panel frames are braced by zigzag lattice-work l4 the same as in the wall panel units hereinbefore described. However, the floor and ceiling panel frames differ in end structure from the wall panel frames, in that, in the floor and ceiling panel frames, the end members 25 thereof are of an L-shape incross section, that is to say, as to the main body portion thereof (see Figures 4, 6 and wherein-one flange thereof (the wider) is uppermost and horizontal, while the other flange 25 (the narrower) is vertically disposed and is provided at its lower margin with an integral, inverted V-grooved, laterally projecting, flange portion extending the length thereof, as at 25 These end members 25 are welded or otherwise rigidly attached at their; ends to the adjacent end portions of the frame side members 22. So, too, in addition to the latticed bracing M of the frame structure, short longitudinal strut pieces26 are interposed between the vertical flange portions 25 of the endmember 25 and the next adjacent channeled cross members of the frame, said members 26 being welded or otherwise rigidly secured to bers of the ceiling frames proper except that they are not provided with the inverted V- grooved marginal portions 25 the depending flange portion of the member 25 being welded or otherwise rigidly secured to said end member 25 of the ceiling frame proper, as at 25 At the middle of the hipped roof frame is a rigid transverse member 30 of inverted V-shape in cross section, above which is a supporting plate 3| which slopes on opposite sides of the ridge of the member 30, both of said members 30 and 3| being welded or otherwise rigidly secured at their ends to the side members of the hipped roof frame. The member 3| affords a support for the meeting endsof roof plates or sheets 5 which rest thereon and are firmly secured thereto, and over the seam is placed a water-shedding strip 32 which is suitably secured to the underlying portions of the roofing plates or sheets 5. In this connection, it is here noted that in cases where the roofing plates or sheets 5 and the supporting member 3| and covering member 32 are made of thin gauge sheet metal, or even certain fibrous materials or :'compositions, conventional sheet metal fastening screws or threaded nails may be driven through the as sembled parts to provide the necessary fastening,

or, obviously, the fastening may be effected by I welding or any other approved. conventional said frame member 20 and to both flanges of the endmember 25 whereby to further reinforce and stiffen thestmcture.

The panel units for floors and ceilings are identical in structure except as, to a minor feature which is not always carried out, and in some structures the panels used may be-precisely iden-' tical, thatis to say, for ceilings and upper floors the channeled cross members 20 of the panel frames may be inverted as shown in Figure 4, or, in other words, with the openingof the channel at the bottom of the frame, whereas, as shown in Figure 6, the transverse channel membe'rsZO of the panel frames which rest on the foundation and carry the lower floor have their openings at the tops of the frames.

For a fiat-roofed structure the roofing plates or sheets 5 thereof may be obviously laid directly on top of the topmost ceiling panel frames.

.However, for a hip roof as shown in Figures 1, 2

and 4 a special roof unit is provided. As shown more clearly in Figure 4, the roof unit includes a base panel frame such as that hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figure 10, with 'a'.j superstructure comprising a hipped frame slopjirigl downwardly, as at 21 and 28, on opposite sides 'of-{its middle which is supported by vertical struts 29 (see Figure 4) whose lower ends rest upon and are rigidly secured to the underlying transverse channel member 20 of the ceiling frame proper.

In general respects the hipped frame structure V is substantially identical with that of the ceiling frame proper, that is to say, it comprises a plurality of the transverse inverted channel mem- V bers 20 latticed bracing l4, and L-shaped end members 25 which are-similar to the end memmeans. It is here further noted'that diagonal bracing such as that indicated at 33 may be pro-' vided between the ceiling frame portion and the hipped roof framing of the structure, as shown in Figure 4, or, if desired, the hereinbefore described zigzag latticed bracing l4 may be employed. I

As to the roof structure, it is preferable to provide a special integral 'eaves or cornice and gutter element 4 (see Figure 4) the same being formed of she metal with a portion thereof of sufficient width to underly the outer marginal portion of the roofing plate or sheet 5 and extending a considerable distance beyond the side wall of the structure and formed at its outer margin with a gutter 35. To brace the outer portion of the element 34 an arcuate bracket plate 36 is welded or otherwise secured at its upper margin to the under side of the gutter portion of the element 34, as at 31, and has its opposite marginal portionsecured to the adja-' cent outer fa e of the 'wall plate or sheet 5. By I this provisiq the overlapped portion of the roof plate orsheet 5 makes for an effective shedding of the water at the eaves and at the same time the arcuatebracket plate 36 affords a stable support for the gutter and cornice or eaves extension.

Special spar, joist or girder elements are pro: vided for a building structure in accordance with the invention,. said elements being shown on a larger scale and in detail in Figures 11 and 12, there being two types of these elements, one

hereinafter referred to asa single spar and foundations and spanning the space therebetween. With the spars placed'in either way mentioned, and their body ridges upward, the V-grooved marginal portions 24 or 25 of the floor or ceiling panel frames are received over 5 the ridged body portions of said spars 39 or 40, as the case may be. ,It is here noted that the single spars 39 are utilized usually in lengthwise disposition on a foundation, and, thereby, receive and support only tion of each floor and cellng panel frame having its V-grooved end or side portion seated thereon, it being understood that the double spars 40 are utilized to support the meeting V-grooved end or side portions of two adjoining panel sections in the assembly, and it being further understood that in use certain double spars are more gen- I erally employed as joists or girders supported at their ends on opposite foundation walls and spanning the space therebetwecn, rather than being disposed lengthwise on a foundation wall, although that is possible in some structures.

The peculiar form of the spars 39 and and thecounterpart marginal grooving of the floor and celing panel frames affords a substantial'25 cross tie between the side walls of the building structure, and, in this connection, it is further noted that the same effect is attained in a building of two or more stories, inasmuch as the side walls of the upper story are substantially crosstied because of the provision of the special cross members ll of the wall panel frames which have the top ridges l2. to receive the marginal inverted V-grooves 24 and 25 of t respective upper floor and ceiling panel frames. mentioned provision of the wall panel frames 'and the corresponding inverted marginal V- grooved portions pf the roof unit, whether the same be for a plainflat roof or a hipped roof,

also affording a stable and safe cross tie at the 40 uppermost portion of the building.

As hereinbefore stated, the several wall panel frames are. identical except as to such panels which are provided with door or window frames.

This is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive,

wherein a door frame 4| with a door 42 provided therein is installed in the building structure and several window frames 43 provided with upper and lower sashes 44 and 45, respectively, are also 7 installed. 5

In the particular panel sections where the door or window frames are installed, certain of the transverse channeled frame members l3 are removed for the accommodation of the door frame or the window frame, as the case may 5 be, and only short members l3 are provided as struts between the vertical side members of the door and window frames and the adjacent vertical L-shaped side members of the panel frame.

So, too, different latticed bracing elements l4 and I4 are substituted in place of the other hereinbefore described latticework I4.

I In applying the outer wall plates or sheets 5 and the inner wall plates or sheets 6 to the respective wall panel frame members H), II and I3, conventional sheet metal screws 46 may be," used, as shown in Figure 16, or, obviously, special or conventional nails may be used, which means of fastening may be also utilized throughout other parts of the structure in applying the plates or sheets 5 and 6, as well as in fastening panel frames and other parts in the building structure assembly as a whole. However, as shown in Figure 15, the' inner wall plates or asheets 6 may be provided with inclined clips or the outer marginal por- 10 This last 35 tongues 41 of relatively stiff material yet pos sessing a certain amount of inherent resiliency whereby said clips may be sprung slightly away from the plate or sheet 6 from the place of attachment 48 when the plate or sheet is placed against the channel member l3 and moved forcibly downward to catch the tongue 41 over the lower reflange'd portion of said member l3, thereby wedging said refianged portion between adjacent portion of the plate or sheet 6 and the overhanging tongue 41;

As to a roof construction in accordance with the present invention, it is here pointed out that the general hereinbefore described special hipped framing may be utilized in a multiple hipped roof by joining two or more of the unitary frames, in which case, obviously, an under plate 3! may be provided at the bottom of the valley where the lower marginal portions of the downwardly sloping cover plates or sheets 5 meet, which under plate will be applied similarly as the hereinbefore described supporting ridge plate 3| except that this valley seam under plate 3 will be obviously bent the reverse of said ridge supporting plate 3|, or, in other words, in the form of a gutter of angular cross section. So,

., invention being illustrated in Figure 18 of the drawings.

In the general adaptations of the present invention, particularly in building structures of the character illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the several wall, fioor and ceiling panel frames will be covered with either outside or inside plates or sheets, or both outside and inside coverings, in which latter cases the space between the outside and inside covering may be left vacant for ventilation if provision is made for air circulation therein, or, for insulation against heat transfer, that is to say of exceedingly high or exceedingly low temperature, all openings for air circulation will be shut off so that the spaces between the outer and inner covering will be dead air spaces. So, too, in some uses of the present invention, the space betweenthe outer and inner wall plates or sheets and also the space between the flooring material and the underlying ceiling material may be filled with conventional or any approved commercial fibrous or other insulation materials. Further more, in some uses of the invention, the wall. floor and ceiling panel frames may be filled in with a suitable cementitious or plastic material which sets and hardens, While in other uses where an open frame structure is built, such as a sun shelter, arbor or trellis and the like, no inner or outer wall panel coverings will be provided. Also, as herein first described, the several panel frames and cooperative adjuncts are adaptable in the construction of many de vices or utilities other than the specific building structures herein described and illustrated in the drawings.

While the structure as illustrated and herein described embodies a practical adaptation oi the invention, it is understood that considerable modiflcation and alteration is permissible within the spirit and scope-of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The invention, therefore.

' shape in cross section to provide a sharp ridge extending the width of the frame between the side members thereof and projecting beyond the ends ,of said side members; channeled transverse members rigidly cross connecting said longitudinal side members of the frame at intervals between the said transverse end members of the frame; and trussing elements disposed between and rigidly connecting the respective next adjacent transverse end and intermediate members of the frame.

2. A panel unit for building construction, comprising a rectangular frame composed of L- shaped longitudinal side members, an L-shaped transverse member rigidly connecting said side members of the frame at one end thereof, a channeled transverse member rigidly connecting said side members of the frame at the opposite ends thereof, said channeled transverse member having its outermost flange portion formed V- shaped in cross section to provide a sharp ridge extending the width of the frame between the side members and projecting beyond the ends of the side members, transverse members rigidly cross connecting said side members between the said transverse end members, and trussing elements disposed between and rigidly connecting the respective next adjacent transverse end and intermediate members of the frame.

3. A panel unit for building construction, comprising a rectangular frame composed of L- shaped longitudinal side members, a transverse member rigidly connecting said side members of the frame-at one end, a channeled transverse member rigidly connecting said side members most flange portion formed V-shaped in cross bers of the frame.

section to provide a sharp ridge extending the width of the frame between the side members, transverse members rigidly cross connecting side members between the transverse end members. and trussing elements disposed between and rigidly connecting the next adjacent transverse and and intermediate members of the frame.

4. A panel unit for building construction, comprising a rectangular frame composed of L- shaped longitudinal side members, an L-shaped transverse member rigidly connectin said side members of the frame at one end, a channeled transverse member rigidly connecting said side members of the frame at the opposite ends thereof, said channeled transverse member having its outermost flange portion formed V-shaped in cross section to provide a sharp ridge extending the width of the frame between .the side members and projecting beyond the ends thereof, transverse members rigidly cross connecting said side members between'the transverse end members, and diagonal trussing elements disposed between and rigidly connecting the respective next adjacent transverse ends and intermediate mem- ROY n SPEED. 

